Jake and Ewald

This gallery is a modest tribute to Jake Skocir and Ewald Timm. It recalls the role they have played in keeping the mandolin orchestra tradition alive in America.

Jake Skocir joined the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra in 1938. Since that time, he has been a continuous member of the group except for the time that he spent in the Air Force, during WWII.

In 1936, guitarist Ewald Timm joined one of Adolph Waech's student ensembles, the "Monday Night Gang." In that ensemble he met Jake Skocir and the two became friends. By 1940, Ewald was attending Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra rehearsals.

Over the next six decades, Jake and Ewald's friendship grew. Their dedication to the Orchestra and unyielding good humor have been a huge inspiration to scores of Bonne Amie Musical Circle members. It takes people like Jake Skocir and Ewald Timm to keep a mandolin orchestra around for 100 plus years.

Here are Jake Skocir and Norville "Nibby" Schield. Nibby convinced Jake to take up the mandolin. in the middle of the 1930s the two friends made a little money playing popular music together in bars around Milwaukee. In one such performance, Adolph Waech talked Jake into attending a rehearsal of the Bonne Amie Musical Circle. That meeting was Jake's entrance to mandolin orchestras.

Here is a picture of Ewald from 1941. He is playing his Mauer guitar with a towel wrapped around his head. Not long after this Summer trip to Friess Lake, Wisconsin, he left for his stint in the US Army. Ewald served in the South Pacific. The girl on the grass in the background is Sue, Ewald's wife.

In late the 1940's, Jake and Ewald played together with the "Milwaukee Mandolin and Guitar Club." This ensemble was led by Raymond Wiegers and was comprised of members of four separate local mandolin groups,the Bonne Amie Musical Circle, Wack's Mandoleers, the Rigolettos, and the Cloverleafs.

This picture shows the members of the MMO in 1956. Ewald is pictured on the left, playing an armadillo-backed instrument backwards. Jake is seated in the front row with his Gibson mando-cello. Not sure why there is a quarter barrel with glasses in front of the players.

Detail from a 1960's group shot in Jake's basement. For about twenty years, MMO rehearsals took place at Jake's house, in the basement.

The "Mando Brothers." During a photo shoot for the MMO's centennial concert, photographer John Hall snapped a picture of Jake and Ewald's portrayal of Jake and Elwood.

In between sets at the Stoughton Opera House in 2001, Jake slipped on a stair and broke his mandolin. Thankfully, Jake was not seriously hurt and master luthier, Denny Rauen, was able to ressurect Jake's mandolin.

Here is Ewald playing with a small MMO ensemble for an outdoor performance in 2004.

In December of 2007, at one of the last Thursday night rehearsals Ewald attended, the MMO helped celebrate our dear friend's 90th Birthday. The blazing cake in the picture had ninety-one candles carrying an inspiring flame. In true Bonne Amie Musical Circle fashion, when needed, his friends joined in to help put out the fire.